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Rebecca Karnopp - From The Vive Corner

Training the “New Puppy” that is Your Brand!

If any of you have ever gotten a new dog before (just like I did!) you probably know how much work they can end up being. Everything from feedings to potty breaks to playtime all needs to be planned out, and that doesn’t even account for vet visits, leash training, and dozens of other things your dog needs to learn. Despite all the hard work, however, the result is definitely worth it – you’ll have a wonderful doggy companion you can’t live without!

When it comes to your company’s brand, the process can often feel long and arduous, much like how it feels to train a new pet. There might be a lot of challenges and stressful feelings associated with figuring out how you want your company to present itself to the world, but the result is worth all that hard work. Your company will have a unique identity that’s true to your core values, and customers and employees alike will know who you are and what you represent.

Below are some helpful “training” tips you can take with you when figuring out your brand!

Training takes time, patience, and a lot of love.

Adopting a new dog or puppy comes with many challenges, since both of you need to acclimate to this big life change. Training goes a long way in making your dog feel happier and more comfortable in its new home, but these positive changes don’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of patience and love to continuously encourage your dog to behave properly. In the same way, your company’s brand identity won’t get figured out in just a day; it will take time and a lot of thought, research, and reflection.

Not being able to figure out your company’s brand identity right away can be frustrating. When it comes to “training” your brand, there may be good days and bad days, but the key is to be consistent and not give up. The juice is worth the squeeze!

Master the basics before anything else.

Some dogs are great at learning cool tricks, like doing back flips or walking on their hind legs. Those tricks can be a lot of fun, but these dogs didn’t start out doing flips or leg stands; instead, their owners had them master basic commands first – like sit, stand, and roll over – before they were able to learn anything else.

When it comes to your brand, what do you want it to represent? What do you value as a company, and how do you want customers to perceive you? Figuring out the answers to these basic questions before anything else is important when figuring out your brand identity. The smaller details, such as the colors in your new logo or the font size in your company letterhead, can be figured out at a later time. Answer the big questions first so you can “master the basics” of your brand right away.

Socialization is key.

Dogs are naturally social creatures – more often than not, their favorite time of day is their daily walk, where they get to interact with people, dogs, nature, and even other animals. Keeping dogs cooped up alone indoors for long periods of time without letting them explore the world is very bad for them, and it can have a detrimental effect in the long-term.

When your new brand is newly launched, it’s best for you to “socialize” it by posting about it on social media. You may even want to conduct a “soft launch” of your brand to get a better pulse on how your audience feels about it. It’s always good practice to track analytics and measure user engagement on your website and social media accounts once your brand is out in the world: this helps you stay on top of how your brand identity is being perceived by the world and you can adjust it accordingly.

Just like socializing a dog, a brand identity is not meant to be cooped up and hidden away. Letting it out into the world (under a measured and watchful eye, of course) will help you ensure a successful brand launch.

Training isn’t a short-term experience – it’s a lifelong journey.

We might like to think our doggos are always perfect, but the truth is that they need constant care and attention in order to stay happy, healthy, and vibrant. If they don’t receive that consistent love and care from us, they could lose all the progress their training gave them.

Much like with dog training, creating a brand identity is not just a “one and done” deal. A brand needs constant care and attention to ensure your business is properly represented across all platforms. Every few years or so, it’s important to reevaluate your brand and to make sure it’s continuing to represent your values as a company.

The consistent “training” of your brand may seem like a lot of work to undertake, but if the result is your company’s continued success, then it’s absolutely worth it.

Consult a professional trainer when you need a little help.

When you feel like you need some extra help training your pup, don’t be afraid to call in the professionals! In the same way, all of us at Vive Marketing are here to help you “train” your company brand. Our team has years of experience providing professional marketing services for manufacturing companies just like yours. We’re always available to assist in helping you discover your company’s WHY.

Interested in learning more about Vive’s expert marketing services? Contact us today to start a conversation!